Economist Sylvia Allegretto claimed there is no link between minimum-wage hikes and job losses. What she didn’t mention is that her research findings were disproven. Economists at the University of California, Irvine, and the Federal Reserve Board recently released a study showing that Allegretto’s and her co-authors’ conclusions are not supported by the data.

In reality, the economic consensus is overwhelming: 85 percent of the best studies from the past two decades show minimum-wage hikes kill jobs.

Letter writer Gerald Staack said of Republicans and climate change, “As tornadoes become more frequent and increasingly violent, how long will it be until they change their minds?” He should get the facts before spouting his political rhetoric.

Two weeks before the Oklahoma event occurred, it was reported that this tornado season was one of the lightest in recent history. Also, of the top 10 tornado disasters recorded in the United States, only one had occurred since 1953.

– Jim Toomey, Reseda

Protesters right about Monsanto, GMO foods

Re “Protesters target Monsanto” (May 26):

The protesters were marching against Monsanto for a good reason. Genetically modified food does not add nutritional benefits or bigger crop yields.

Examples of video footage I’ve seen include India, where cotton farmers signed contracts with Monsanto because they were promised bigger yields. The results? Crop yields were smaller than usual, and the cotton farmers developed severe allergies and open bloody sores while picking the cotton.

They fed the GMO cotton stalks to their big oxen after the harvest. Days later the oxen were dead. The farmers were obligated to buy more GMO seed because of contracts, but were financially ruined. Thousands of Indian farmers have committed suicide.

GMO cotton is banned in India. In Mexico, the GMO corn pollen spreads in the wind destroying various strains of organic corn that have been developed over hundreds of years. Farmers interviewed said their kids are sick from eating the corn, and their farm animals dying.

– Jan McQuain, Van Nuys

An A+ for Arleta High and its version of Three R’s

Re “Arleta High graduating 92% of its senior class” (May 27):

Congratulations to the students, staff and parents of Arleta High School. Special congratulations to principal Linda Calvo. I could not agree more with her belief in the Three R’s: rigor, relevance and relationships. A 92 percent graduation rate. Wow! Hopefully the staff can keep Calvo’s vision upon her retirement.

– Chuck Trudeau, Shadow Hills

Greuel’s union backing proved to be big turnoff

Re “Greuel didn’t garner enough women’s votes for victory” (May 23):

Analysts said Wendy Greuel’s lackluster performance with women voters was the reason she wasn’t elected. I was one of her strongest supporters when Greuel ran for City Council, but like most people, I didn’t support her for mayor because the big unions supported her. If elected, she would back all union requests – one of the major reasons the city is in financial trouble today.

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